Feb 24 2014
F5 Networks announced today that Oi selected the F5®Traffix™ Signaling Delivery Controller™ (SDC™) to meet the Diameter signaling management demands of their LTE network.
Signaling serves a crucial function within a telecommunications network’s internal communication system. For 4G/LTE, signaling is based on the Diameter protocol, with agents that control LTE device (smartphones, tablets, etc.) communications. Each user action (such as web browsing, sending photos, or downloading videos) generates signaling messages that traverse the network. To streamline the user experience and achieve optimum LTE network performance, these communications require management and resource prioritization.
Given the Diameter protocol’s essential role in modern data networks, the efficient handling of signaling traffic is an important element of F5’s offerings for service providers, and of the company’s goal to help mobility clients maintain optimal network performance. Innovative Diameter signaling solutions such as the F5 Traffix SDC provide telecommunications operators the information they need to employ user-specific management policies, perform user device authentication, and efficiently manage network performance. Additionally, users can configure the Diameter protocol as a Diameter Edge Agent to enable global roaming services.
F5 Traffix SDC Deployed by Organizations Worldwide
“F5’s signaling solutions have been deployed by more than 30 operators around the world,” said Tom Carter, VP of Worldwide Sales, Carriers and Service Providers at F5 Networks. “We view this as a result of F5 offering the most mature routing, load distribution, and Diameter signaling capabilities on the market.”
“F5 technology can help us fully control and manage our LTE network, and also ensure interoperability between legacy systems and other telecommunications environments,” said Pedro Falcão, Director of Network Development and Engineering at Oi. “Our aim is to ensure the continuous quality of user services, and looking ahead, to be ready for the kinds of peak demand that the market will surely see during large events like the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.”
Signaling Volume Increasing Dramatically
The rollout of LTE networks has led to massive increases in network traffic. In turn, each LTE-enabled device adds demands on signaling as well. The F5 Traffix SDC ensures the delivery of signaling volumes, regardless of the operators’ LTE core network equipment. Additionally, with its wide range of interoperability, the SDC solution enables roaming operations with optimum security, even between telecommunications operators that use different technologies and vendors for services.
“Many users keep certain applications available 24/7,” added Carter. “We see this frequently with social media sites like Facebook. The demand is virtually constant. With the F5 Traffix SDC solution, Oi will be much better equipped to handle this type of demand while continuing to deliver high-performing applications.”
F5 will be exhibiting its service provider technologies in Hall 5 Stand 5G11 at this year’s Mobile World Congress event, taking place February 24–27 in Barcelona.
Source: https://f5.com